Microsoft Edge gains market share following Internet Explorer retirement

Microsoft Edge on Start menu
(Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft Edge gained market share among desktop browsers in June 2022, climbing up to 10.64%.
  • Edge passed Apple's Safari earlier this year and has steadily crept up over the past months, though it still trails Google Chrome by a sizeable margin.
  • Internet Explorer was retired on June 15, 2022, which may have contributed to Edge's market share increase.

Microsoft Edge continues to grow in usage among PC owners. The browser reached a 10.64% market share in June 2022, according to Statcounter. That's dramatically lower than Google Chrome's share (66.93%) but is still good enough for second place among desktop browsers.

Between May and June of this year, Edge went up from 10.12% to 10.64% market share. There's usually some variation in figures from month to month, but a 0.52% bump is significant. Internet Explorer was retired on June 15, 2022, which may have contributed to Edge's increased usage.

Edge has an Internet Explorer mode that allows organizations to continue to use legacy software. There's a chance that Edge's uptick in market share could be due to enterprises migrating over.

Browser market share June 2022

(Image credit: Statcounter)

Microsoft Edge has steadily gained market share over the last year, so there's a chance that its increased usage is completely separate from the retirement of Internet Explorer. 

On the mobile side of things, Edge is hardly a factor when it comes to market share. It doesn't even appear as a named browser on Statcounter. Chrome dominates that space as well, sitting comfortably at over 65% market share.

Microsoft Edge isn't in better shape when it comes to tablets. Again, the browser doesn't even appear as a named entity on Statcounter's charts. The top five tablet browsers make up more than 99% of market share, leaving little for Edge.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is the built-in browser on Windows 11 and Windows 10. It's powered by Chromium, so it works with the vast majority of websites and even supports Chrome extensions. With Internet Explorer being retired, Edge may be the first port of call for some users.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.